Emotions of a cricket hardman: Merv Hughes overwhelmed by the death of Phillip Hughes who 'had so much more to achieve'

  • Former Aussie cricketer, Merv Hughes, says he was overwhelmed by the death of Phillip Hughes
  • The right arm fast bowler said he was surprised at the amount of tributes from people outside of the cricket community 
  • Merv was a national selector when Phillip Hughes was picked for his first test in South Africa 

By Amy Ziniak for Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Loveable former Aussie cricketer Merv Hughes has paid hommage to former test cricketer Phillip Hughes saying, as a young man 'he had so much more to achieve'.

The South Australian batsman and former Australian cricketer tragically died last week after he suffered a severe head injury when he was struck by a bouncer, while playing New South Wales.

The big hearted fast bowler, who was on Ten's The Project Monday night to discuss his new book, '104 cricket legends' said when he heard the terrible news he was overwhelmed with sadness and grief.

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Merv Hughes (pictured) said he was overwhelmed with sadness and grief by the death of Phillip Hughes 

Merv Hughes (pictured) said he was overwhelmed with sadness and grief by the death of Phillip Hughes 

Merv Hughes (pictured far right) was on Ten's The Project to speak about his latest book and also spoke about the death of Phillip Hughes

Merv Hughes (pictured far right) was on Ten's The Project to speak about his latest book and also spoke about the death of Phillip Hughes

The South Australian batsman and former Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes (pictured) tragically died last week after he suffered a severe head injury when he was struck by a bouncer

The South Australian batsman and former Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes (pictured) tragically died last week after he suffered a severe head injury when he was struck by a bouncer

'Just trying to come to grips and just trying to understand why but there's just no answers for it,' he said. 

He said he wasn't surprised at the out pour of tributes that came from the cricketing fraternity, but was surprised at the amount of tributes that flowed from people outside of the sport. 

'I think it's just disbelief that a 25 year old bloke playing the game that he loved, you don't expect to lose a life through that,' he told Ten's The Project.

The man who is affectionately nicknamed 'fruitfly' talked about the career of the former Australian cricketer who became the youngest to score a Sheffield Shield century and made a century on debut in the Australian one dayers.

The man known for his stretching (pictured) and sledging said 'you don't expect to lose a life through that' referring to the death of Phillip Hughes

The man known for his stretching (pictured) and sledging said 'you don't expect to lose a life through that' referring to the death of Phillip Hughes

The former Australian fast bowler (pictured) said he felt overwhelmed with sadness and grief after hearing the news Phillip Hughes died

The former Australian fast bowler (pictured) said he felt overwhelmed with sadness and grief after hearing the news Phillip Hughes died

Merv Hughes said Phillip Hughes (pictured against England) had 'so much more to achieve'

Merv Hughes said Phillip Hughes (pictured against England) had 'so much more to achieve'

Merv Hughes (pictured right) was a national cricket selector when Phillip Hughes was picked for a test series in South Africa

Merv Hughes (pictured right) was a national cricket selector when Phillip Hughes was picked for a test series in South Africa

He said the talented youngster came on the national scene at the age of 20 when he was a selector and talked about his bitter sweet test beginnings.

Picked for his first test at Cape Town in South Africa, Merv says as a selector he was a little nervous after the young cricketer got out for a fourth ball duck but their faith was soon restored. 

'He got 71 in the second innings, top scored and helped Australia clinch victory and then the next test match back to back hundreds, the youngest bloke to do that at test level,' he said.

Merb Hughes (pictured) said the talented youngster came on the national scene at the age of 20 when he was a selector and talked about his bitter sweet test beginnings

Merb Hughes (pictured) said the talented youngster came on the national scene at the age of 20 when he was a selector and talked about his bitter sweet test beginnings

Phillip Hughes (pictured) was picked for his first test at Cape Town in South Africa when Merv Hughes was a national selector

Phillip Hughes (pictured) was picked for his first test at Cape Town in South Africa when Merv Hughes was a national selector

Merv Hughes detailed Phillip Hughes' (pictured) brilliant career which saw score a number of centuries for Australia

Merv Hughes detailed Phillip Hughes' (pictured) brilliant career which saw score a number of centuries for Australia

Merv Hughes (pictured) said he was overwhelmed with sadness and grief following the death of Phillip Hughes

Merv Hughes (pictured) said he was overwhelmed with sadness and grief following the death of Phillip Hughes

Merv Hughes (pictured right) said his 17 year old son was even affected by the death of Phillip Hughes

Merv Hughes (pictured right) said his 17 year old son was even affected by the death of Phillip Hughes

While many didn't know Phillip Hughes personally, his tragic death was felt nationwide and abroad, and for Merv, even close to home. 

He says while his death didn't affect his 14 year old too much, it hit home hard when he asked his 17 year old son what he felt about the tragedy.

His answer, 'he was really sad'. 

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